Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) has been awarded state and federal grants with a combined total of more than $9 million.
Funding from the two grants supports the District’s ongoing focus on safety and security measures Districtwide and will reimburse costs associated with providing increased mental health services for students, families and employees following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy.
The BCPS Grants Administration Department worked with the Division of Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness and the Student Support Initiatives Department to apply for and ultimately be awarded the two grants.
Below are brief overviews of the grants.
· Florida Department of Education School Safety and Security (School Hardening) grant:
Approximately $4.8 million
The Florida Department of Education’s Office of Safe Schools developed a School Security Risk Assessment (SSRA) designed to help school officials identify threats, vulnerabilities and appropriate safety controls for each campus. All BCPS traditional District public schools completed their security risk assessments by October 1, 2019. Through the SSRAs, the District identified areas of need and will use the grant funds to:
o Incorporate enhancements to single point of entry (SPE) at District schools, such as by providing voice/video capability allowing school staff to view and interact with visitors prior to allowing entrance through SPE.
o Build emergency communications capacity with upgrades to bidirectional amplifier systems at selected schools to improve communication capabilities for first responders on campus.
o Increase analytic surveillance camera presence with additional cameras installed to safeguard critical areas not covered during previous camera projects for schools that already have the enhanced SPE configuration described above.
· U.S. Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime Grant sub-award:
Approximately $4.9 million
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime grant sub-award, also known as the Anti-Terrorism and Emergency Response Program (AEAP), supports communities responding to terrorist attacks and mass violence. BCPS, Children’s Services Council and United Way of Broward County were invited by the Florida Office of the Attorney General Division of Victim Services to submit an AEAP application following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy. The funds reimburse costs associated with providing ongoing trauma-informed, evidence-based healing and resiliency services to students, families and employees since February 14, 2018.
To learn more about the District’s Grants Administration Department, visit browardschools.com/grants.
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